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I have gotten my brother and his wife a couple Japanese Kitchen Knives over the years as Christmas/Wedding presents. This year, I am rehandling them! I showed them some Maple Burls, Claro Walnut, Curly Koa, and a few other stabilized burls. They went for the block of Stabilized Curly Mango and I saw I could get both of their knives out of it! It has that shimmer similar to Koa, but a lighter and more flecked grain pattern. I used a Natural Phenlic (brown) pin material, ie Micarta, because it blends into the handle nicely and works at the same rate as wood.

Handle grain closeup:

Different lighting on the same side of the handle:

The knife is a Tojiro DP, but a line I found without the metal bolster! This one is MUCH thinner both in the blade and behind the edge than most other Tojiro DP's I have played with recently and is no where near as clunky feeling.

I am working on their Hattori Damascus Petty currently, I should have pics in a few days if I can get some warmer weather to get into my shed!

pahi

Post subject: Re: Curly Mango!

Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2013 9:33 pm

Joined: Thu Aug 30, 2012 3:56 pmPosts: 3

So you think a knife should "Look Good/Pretty" for slicing-dicing-and chopping? Really?!!

taz575

Post subject: Re: Curly Mango!

Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2013 10:38 pm

Forum Moderator

Joined: Thu Apr 26, 2012 5:13 pmPosts: 3057Location: CT

Why not? Most factory handles don't feel the best in the hand (minimum contouring, often poor fit and finish between the handle material/tang, etc) and are a generic size. By doing a custom handle, you get better fit and finish and better fit to your hand, which is more comfortable to use. Looking good while using the knife is just an extra bonus!

_________________If at first you don't succeed, pay someone that knows what they're doing.

taz575

Post subject: Re: Curly Mango!

Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2013 11:10 pm

Forum Moderator

Joined: Thu Apr 26, 2012 5:13 pmPosts: 3057Location: CT

Thats a Fujiwara 150mm Carbon petty with stabilized Buckeye Burl. I had some thin handle scales lying around from a while back (ordered the wrong size, didn't realize they were so thin), so I decided to use them finally. I prefer a fatter handle, but I don't use a petty all that often or for a long period of time to be bothered by it. They aren't much thicker than the factory scales.

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